Scripture Text: "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:" Eph 2:14-16 (KJV)

Some of the greatest confusion and talk of hatred and persecution today, is not about color; it's about religion. It was the same in the day when the Apostle Paul wrote these words. What was he saying? What was he talking about?

During Paul's day, the middle wall of partition was the law of circumcision. The Gentiles believed it was a bloody ritual - and it was so to speak; and the Jews knew the Lord was in the details.

Throughout Bible History, blood has always been a method of covenant. In fact, since the beginning of time, since there was nothing more precious than life, they made covenant for life, by the cutting of their hands and the mingling of their own blood as a sign that they were in agreement, and the only way that covenant could be broken was by death. This was a covenant made by the tribal chief not just for himself, but for the tribe. Everyone was bound by it. Now, where do you suppose that came from? It came from the Lord.

From the beginning of time, because of the sin of our first parents Adam and Eve, all have sinned; it was inbred into them to do so. This mark of sin on their lives was the reason they were cast out of the garden.

As we progress through history, we find that Moses was ordered by the Lord through covenant to perform the ritual of circumcision - the cutting away the flesh, the shedding of the blood from where . . . the place where life begins! This was an eternal sign that they belonged to God - passing His teachings from generation to generation.

Throughout the ages the Medical world has come to the conclusion that circumcision is not necessary. Writing in a landmark article, a man by the name of Dr. E. Noel Preston, Captain, MC, USAF established that there was no therapeutic benefit to circumcision. He also cited "undesirable psychological, sexual, and medico-legal difficulties". This brought back the old debate which caused Paul to originally write our text for today. A revived struggle of circumcision vs. un-circumcision: but let's get down to it shall we?

This same enmity and hatred between Jew and Gentile existed then and it exists now because it is the Laws of God vs. the Laws of man. You will be interested to know that my research shows that in 1985 the decisions about medical circumcision was reversed due to a number of recurring urinary tract infections in men that were uncircumcised. Now, was that by coincidence? "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal 6:7

"Infection" always creeps in when we allow "sin" to divide us. But I have said all of that to say this. When God says that He broke down that wall of partition between us - meaning between God and man - regarding circumcision, he was speaking of the fact that through Jesus Christ the Son, and the precious blood that He spilt "once for all" on Calvary, there was no need for any further sacrifice. This according to the Word of the Lord "brought peace" between God and man and set us free form the law of circumcision. That's why the Apostle Paul speaks against circumcision in the word and says, "But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Rom 2:29 ( also see Acts 15; Acts 21:25; Titus 1:10-16)

Now we've gone long here today and I want to make it clear that whether or not your sons or grandsons are circumcised is not the point of this message. It is that through the death by crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ, that you and I have "peace" with God. We will see how that effects us in the life of those who are walking in the spirit in tomorrow's edition of In The Garden. For now Let's pray.

Father: I adore you today and I praise your Name for the Wonder and the Provision of your Son Jesus. Father, I don't understand all that has gone into the power of the blood of Christ and how that through his blood we are free from the Law of sin and death; Your thoughts and you ways are high above my thoughts and what I could ever reason. I don't understand how the power of His blood washes me white as snow; or how the power of His blood makes me and heir of THE Almighty God, and a joint-heir with Christ, but I receive it today in Jesus' Name and I desire to walk with you in all things - in the power of that Blood and that declaration of faith. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.